UPDATED: Md. man dies after two-vehicle crash near Townsend

A 43-year-old Maryland man died Dec. 8 after being ejected from his pick-up truck following a two-vehicle crash south of Townsend on Dec. 7, according to state police.

By Scott Gossscott.goss@doverpost.com@MiddletownScott

A 43-year-old Maryland man died Dec. 8 after being ejected from his pick-up truck following a two-vehicle crash south of Townsend on Dec. 7, according to state police.

The crash occurred just before midnight as Jesus Velazquez of Warwick, Md., and his passenger were heading east in a 2007 Ford F-150 on Blackbird Forrest Road and failed to yield for a stop sign at the intersection with southbound U.S. Route 13, according to Delaware State Police spokesman Cpl. John Day.

A 1997 Lexus 300 heading south in the left lane of Route 13 struck the driver's side of the pick-up, ejecting Velazquez from the vehicle.

Velazquez's passenger fled the scene immediately after the crash.

Velazquez, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, was later taken to Christiana Hospital where he was admitted in critical condition. Velazquez later died at the hospital, Day said.

The driver of the Lexus, 65-year-old Antoinette Haysel of Rehoboth Beach, was wearing a seatbelt and suffered only minor injuries, Day said.

Troopers are continuing to investigate the crash and no charges had been filed as of 9 a.m. Sunday.

However, Day said police believe Velasquez was under the influence of alcohol, which is considered to be a contributing factor in the crash.